King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) hosted the inaugural in-person World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Summer School in Saudi Arabia. In partnership with the Saudi Authority on Intellectual Property (SAIP), the WIPO Summer School underscores both these organizations’ commitment to fostering innovation, education and intellectual property (IP) development in the region.   

IP is a significant factor in the future evolution of Saudi Arabia’s economy. Some of the objectives set out by Vision 2030 are directly enabled by IP, with sound IP practices being a cornerstone of building an innovation culture and fostering a favorable investment climate.  

Saudi Arabia is committed to building a culture of IP and to strengthening the enforcement of IP rights in the country. SAIP is actively working to build greater respect for IP rights through a variety of programs that focus on IP awareness, IP enablement and IP enforcement.  

WIPO summer schools are offered in locations around the world in partnership with IP offices and universities. They share a common curriculum, though some may offer different degrees of specialization in certain areas of IP.   

The Kingdom’s first in-person summer school held at the KAUST campus in Thuwal brought together 22 nationalities in a diverse mix of 40 participants from abroad and the Kingdom, and 10 renowned international and local speakers to delve into the intricacies of IP. Participants gained valuable knowledge and insights through lectures, case studies, and interactive sessions covering topics such as copyright, patents, trademarks, industrial designs, technology transfer and strategic IP management. The summer school proved popular with over 180 candidates submitting applications to attend. SAIP provided 10 scholarships with all expenses paid.   

Ian Campbell, Vice President of the National Transformation Institute at KAUST commented; “KAUST has always been based on innovation. However, as we progress with our Accelerating Impact strategy we are transforming to take the lead across all stages in the translation of innovation to commercialization, including IP. An essential component is the building of partnerships with international organizations like WIPO as part of our knowledge sharing to help drive the knowledge-based economy across Saudi Arabia and achieve the ambitious goals of Vision 2030.”  

“The launch of the WIPO Summer School in Saudi Arabia highlights our commitment to cultivating a culture of innovation and enhancing intellectual property expertise,” said Bader Alrashed, Head of Intellectual Property Academy at SAIP. “In partnership with WIPO and KAUST, this initiative aligns with the national IP strategy to develop a new generation of IP professionals, driving the Kingdom's vision of becoming a global leader in both innovation and intellectual property.”   

“The first in-person WIPO-Saudi Arabia Summer School has been a groundbreaking milestone in our mission to deepen intellectual property (IP) knowledge among university students and young professionals,” commented Hasan Kleib, Deputy Director General of the Regional and National Development Sector of WIPO. “SAIP, KAUST, and the WIPO Academy, each contributing their expertise in the latest IP developments, engaged global experts to deliver powerful learning opportunities, offering real-world examples to enrich understanding. Our collaboration with SAIP and KAUST aligns seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to raise IP awareness for the benefit of all. This partnership helps cultivate a new generation of international IP experts, equipped with world-class IP education.”